Multiuse reusable grip enhancers, and grip enhancing covers, and uses of said enhancers

ABSTRACT

According to the various features, characteristics and embodiments of the present invention which will become apparent as the description thereof proceeds, the present invention provides reusable control enhancers for the arm area, in particular the wrist and forearm, as well as control enhancing covers for conventional sports arm pads, and, reusable control enhancers for the hand, in particular the fingers of the hand, and the uses thereof, and methods thereof, intended to increase the performance in arm and/or hand task activities.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

An important goal in playing sports is to win. Often that means proper play execution, proper form in the sports fundamentals and especially good ball control. Many of these tasks are performed by the hand, but are often also performed, to some degree, with parts of the arm (the wrists, forearm, elbow and bicep areas). Ball control and therefore proper play execution depend on adequately using the parts of the forearm, elbow and/or bicep areas to handle, strike, control or otherwise maintain possession. Inadequate play execution can result in inconsistencies and turnovers, both long standing problems in many sports, and can often determine the outcome of a game.

The Need for Arm Task Enhancers

In the sport of football, for example, lack of play execution is often categorized by turnovers, fumbles and incomplete passes. This is of particular concern to those players that have to control the football such as running backs, receivers, tight ends, kick returners, punt returners and even quarterbacks. Athletes that play any of these positions are often asked, in some way, to run, catch, throw or otherwise control a football. A team's ability to successfully minimize fumbles, incompletes and inconsistencies, can often be the determining factor in the outcome of a game. Creating and maintaining a solid and stable overall control of the ball is therefore an essential component in proper play execution and performance. Often this means being able to grip as well as ‘feel’ a ball or object.

In the sport of football, as in many other sports, controlling a ball is often done not just by using their hands, but by using other parts of the body as well.

A football running back, for instance, might be particularly concerned with not fumbling the ball. A running back's performance is measured not only by his yards per carry but also in his ability to minimize his fumbles. Unfortunately, one need only view the statistics to see that fumbles persist as an insoluble problem, even at the professional level today.

Part of the problem lie in the seemingly inherently unstable and uneven way a player controls and cradles a ball when running. Proper ball handling technique is to grab one end of the football with your hand, and then resting the ball on the forearm of the same arm. As you begin to run with the ball, you may also place the opposite end of the ball (the end that is not being held by the hand) in the inside elbow area, between the forearm and bicep, and the ball is almost always touching the wrist area. Although prior art exists to increase grip around the hand, no art currently exists that will increase ones grip in the forearm area or the wrist.

Football players who catch a football (hereinafter called ‘receivers’) might be particularly concerned with making a catch and completing a reception, and being able to control a ball with the arm area. Enough skill and precision must take place in order to get the ball from the quarterback to a receiver; timing, stable footing, and protecting the ball just to name a few. When a receiver first catches a ball, he usually brings the ball into the arm, thus holding the ball with the hand, as well as the wrist and forearm area. Providing art that enhances the grip around the wrist or forearm area would certainly enhance the receiver's ability to complete the pass reception successfully, often an important aspect in determining who wins the game, since passing the football is a significant part of the sport of football, sometimes throwing as much as 103 times in a game (Seattle vs. San Diego, 2002). Thus, developing a solution to enhance one's ability of better controlling a catch and completing a pass reception would substantially impact the sport. Additionally, inconsistencies or incompletes often arise when a ‘stress factor’ is introduced once a receiver first touches and places the ball on their arm area. This problem is so pronounced that many instant replay situations revolve around seeing whether the ball moves even slightly in the receivers arm—including the forearm. As such, an unrecognized problem currently exists because it is very difficult to grip a ball with parts of the arm.

Clearly, maintaining good ball control is important. In football, unstable or weak ball control can, among other things, increase fumbles, increase incompletes and thereby increase turnovers and decrease performance.

There have been some attempts through the years to solve the problems of inconsistencies and turnovers in the sport of football. For example, changes have been made to the actual football in order to make the ball easier to handle. Changes to the shape and size, as well as the addition of grip enhancing materials to the ball—such as the addition of PVC dots—have made it possible to make the ball more grippable. The ability of the player to maintain control of the football was still problematic because of the lack of any grip enhancing device for the player to use; devices that could be placed on the arm such that the player could now more significantly control a ball with his arm, thereby creating a better overall grip of the football throughout the football. As a result of this unmet need, inconsistencies and turnovers were still high in the sport.

The introduction and subsequent proliferation in the use of gloves found some success but even with these advancements, however, fumbles and incompletes still persist today. For one, whereas a running back who uses a grip enhancing glove will be better able to properly grip a football by using his hands, his hand, and therefore the grip enhancing device, only cover the front part of the ball, leaving the rest of the ball, and therefore the overall grip, still significantly unstable. One need only add a stress factor and this currently unstable hold on the ball can easily result in a fumble.

Good ball control is so important in football that inventions were created and widely used to enhance the gripping abilities of an individual's hand. Improvements have lacked in the areas of helping the rest of the arm better grip a ball. No improvements have been developed that could provide enhanced gripping support around the wrist area, an area that almost always touches the ball when cradling the ball. Improvements have lacked in offering a player the ability to achieve an enhanced grip capability around the forearm area, an area that plays a major role in maintaining control of a ball when a receiver is completing a reception (as mentioned above, there are certain play situations where if there is even slight movement with any part of the ball—including the wrist or forearm areas, a pass will be considered incomplete even if the receiver actually caught the ball). Advances have lacked in increasing one's grip around the wrist area, or in increasing ball control around the elbow or bicep areas.

Providing such a device would certainly allow a player to have a much stronger grip throughout and around the ball, to create a more stable overall handle on the ball, and therefore to significantly advance arm task performance and play execution. Not only would new art offer benefits to running backs, receivers, tight ends and quarterbacks, but they could also increase the performances of kick returners and punt returners, who have to run with the football. In addition, no art currently exists that offers a grip enhancing device as a covering for one's sports arm pads. For example, if a running back has a forearm pad for protection but also wants to add a grip enhancer to it, he currently cannot purchase a grip enhancer cover that he could place over his arm pad. Grip enhancing covers would be well received in this sport and would offer significant and substantial benefits.

Because no such art exists, it is no surprise that there were a total of 731 fumbles, and the highest quarterback completion rating was less than 70 percent, in the 2010 NFL Season (Official Stat Book of the NFL, 2011). Given the fact that fumbles persist at the professional level and therefore certainly at the collegiate and amateur levels, one can see that past attempts to solve these problems have had limited success.

An example of another sport in need of control enhancers for the forearm and wrist area is Volleyball. Here too, ball control is crucial to play performance. Play execution often depends on one's ability to control a ball with multiple parts of your arm, but especially your forearm. Although there are forearm, elbow and even bicep devices that could be used for protection, or simply for aesthetic purposes, no prior art exists that would enhance ball control in said areas for volleyball.

When an opponent strikes a volleyball to the other teams side of the net, the first player to normally touch a ball—when the ball isn't blocked at the net—generally controls the ball with her or his forearm(s). With that first touch contact, one must be able to stabilize the ball, and then usually pass the ball to a teammate. Unfortunately, this current method of passing a volleyball can provide inconsistent results. First, the initial contact control is generally with the forearm skin of the player, and without any grip enhancing device, it can become very difficult to redirect a volleyball with consistent precision. Although the initial contact happens very fast, a control enhancing mechanism for the arm area would have a significant impact on the sport. Additionally, a more general reason for inconsistencies is in one's inability to grip with one's forearm. Without providing the forearm with some way to better grip a volleyball, inconsistencies in the sport of volleyball will continue to be a long-standing problem. Additionally, any type of control enhancers for the wrist area would provide similar benefits as mentioned above.

The Need for Hand Task Enhancers

Not only are there significant needs for grip enhancing devices and grip enhancing covers for the arm area—in particular the wrist, forearm elbow and bicep areas—but there is also a significant need for better grip enhancing devices for the hands as well. Although offering some advantages, using prior art creates disadvantages that often forces an individual to choose not to use any grip enhancing device at all.

One particular area where prior art poses significant disadvantages is in any sport where a player's success depends on her ability to both grip as well as feel a ball or object. These players often have to choose between wearing a glove thereby enhancing grip but losing significant feel, or going without a glove thereby maintaining maximum feel but missing the opportunity to enhance one's grip.

In football for example, gloves can be used to enhance performance. The use of gloves in football is so widespread that nearly every football player uses them, with the notable exception of football quarterbacks. You rarely see a quarterback wear gloves, even if just to keep warm. Most quarterbacks choose to play football without gloves. This is largely because prior art consists of generic full-fingered gloves which are uncomfortable and burdensome on a quarterback's dominant (throwing) hand, particularly on those fingers a quarterback places over the football laces. In addition, the full-fingered gloves prevent a quarterback to have much ‘feel’ of the ball.

Playing the position of quarterback without the help of gloves, however, can also be an inferior choice. The website Wikihow.com, provides a good description of the conventional way to hold and throw a football. “Throwing the football is simple. Put your non-throwing side foot in front of you. Have your Pinkie, Ring and Middle fingers around the laces with your Index [Forefinger] finger on the strap. Put the other hand up on the ball. Put the ball up by your ear. Twist your hips toward the front foot. Throw the ball at the receiver.” Whereas, the fingers over the laces have a solid grip on the ball—primarily due to the football laces on the ball—the two fingers off the laces (forefinger and thumb) are virtually unsupported and therefore have a relatively weaker grip, creating a weak overall grip on the football.

This weak overall grip becomes more pronounced when added stress is placed on the Thumb or Forefinger. When a quarterback, intending to pass the football, for example, suddenly has to scramble, or if the quarterback ‘pumps’ the ball (goes through all the motions and speed of throwing the ball but doesn't actually release the ball), the grip strength of the Thumb and Forefinger can determine whether or not a quarterback fumbles the ball. Also, if one performs a simple test and wets his/her dominant hand, and then grabs and pumps a football, the Forefinger and Thumb will often move or slip. On a wet football field, during extreme weather conditions (hot or cold), that weaker or looser grip makes for a much more difficult completed pass, less success at throwing a spiral, and inconsistency and inaccuracy in passing.

Under the ‘tips’ section of Wikihow.com, it further describes proper football throwing form: “A proper throw will feel like it's only utilizing the Thumb, Index [Forefinger], and Middle finger. Good release will ‘roll’ off of your Index and Middle finger, to impart more spin; you may snap your wrist through as you follow through to the hip. The other three fingers on your hand stabilize the ball as its being flung. They should not be used to impart spin on the ball. The most important finger to throwing a spiral is the Index finger; it is the finger that holds the most leverage in putting spin on the ball.”

This need to ‘feel’ a ball with a hand has therefore resulted in quarterbacks having a difficult choice. Although clearly these players would benefit from added grip enhancements on the throwing hand, prior art (in the form of gloves) force a quarterback to choose between all feel and no feel. Virtually all quarterbacks have chosen to maintain feel and sacrifice the ability to better grip the football, and therefore not wear gloves. It is no surprise that quarterback fumbles remain a significant problem in football, even at the highest performance levels and currently remains an insoluble problem in the sport for amateurs and professionals alike.

Individuals who play basketball also have to both ‘feel’ and grip a ball to perform properly, and although they too could significantly enhance performance in controlling a ball, prior art forces them to choose all feel as well, and go without any type of grip enhancers. This insoluble problem therefore also exists in playing the sport of basketball, and these players would substantially benefit from developing a way to maintain feel while increasing grip capabilities in select areas of the hand. More specifically, new art is needed that could offer control enhancers in certain locations of the hand while leaving others areas of the hand uncovered and therefore being able to maintain necessary feel.

In the field of Golf, to be sure, there exists much prior art in the form of gloves for a golfer's weak (non-dominant) hand. In fact most active golf players wear a glove on their weak hand, and go without a glove for their strong hand (if one were to go to any major store to buy golf gloves, they would be sold and packaged in singles—one glove—not sold in pairs). Gloves are prevalent in golf largely because of the role that hand grip and control play in a golfer's overall performance.

Although there exist many types of full-fingered gloves for a golfer's weak-hand, they all attempt to maximize a golfer's weak-hand grip without regard to a golfer's weak-hand feel, and hand coordination needs. It is no surprise, therefore, that prior art consists of full-fingered (all fingers are covered), closed palm (entire palm is essentially all covered) gloves. As a result, a typical golfer must rely on her weak-hand to provide most of the grip support, and on her strong-hand to provide all of the ‘feel’ in her golf swing. The current solution to this insoluble problem has been for virtually all golfers to use one and only one glove. This glove is always placed on the weak hand, leaving the strong hand without a glove. There is, therefore, an opportunity to invent a device or method that could offer some ‘feel’ ability for the weak-hand, without significantly diminishing that enhanced grip ability that gloves offer. This would increase overall hand control of a golfer's club swing, and therefore, result in greater success in competition.

Whereas weak-hand support products seem to be crowded in the sport of Golf, there is a long existing need for a device that could offer added support for a golfer's strong-hand without significantly diminishing its ability to adequately feel the golf club. Inventing a solution to this problem could, among other things, allow for greater overall golf swing control and consistency, and create an entirely new market because golfers currently do not use grip enhancers on their dominant hand, thereby changing the way that golf is played.

In Golf magazine's April 2005 article titled “Fix your grip. The wrong grip can cripple your swing—Here's the cure,” golf instructor Charlie King provides an overview of how to grip a golf club. “Good golf starts with your grip. The proper hold on the club helps you do three crucial things: Hinge your wrists, control the clubface at impact and support the club throughout the swing. Here are three simple grip tips.” As King continues, his third tip is “both hands; solid at the top. An effective grip sets the face square at the top, with the shaft parallel to the target line. You should feel most of the club's weight in your left Thumb and right Forefinger. Now you're ready to turn it loose.” Although prior art seems to be crowded in offering a glove for the weak-hand, to support and better control the club weight placed on the Thumb of the weak-hand, there remains an unmet need for added support on or around the Forefinger of the strong-hand. Additionally, constant swinging of a golf club at real swing speeds often results in soreness on and between the Thumb and Forefinger of a golfer's strong hand (wearing no glove). This soreness can often also come from the rubbing or slipping, between the club handle and the strong-hand, suggesting a need to find a way to increase the grip—as well as protection—of a golfer's strong hand. This is especially important in the sport of golf because even the smallest of slipping—during the golf swing or upon impact of the golf ball—can create enormous inconsistencies and inaccuracies, critical issues in determining overall performance.

Consequently, there are clear indications that an entirely new market exists for targeted grip enhancers that could be placed only on select areas of the strong hand—such as only on a couple of fingers—leaving other parts of the strong hand free to feel. In particular there remains an unrecognized problem and an unmet need for new art that can provide multiple benefits, such as increase overall grip, improve coordination with both hands, as well as possibly provide some protection from any constant grip slipping, during the practice or play of golf, and in various other sports activities.

In the sport of Basketball, there exists no prior art when it comes to grip enhancers to enhance the performance of over 100 million individuals who play the sport. Although there are several multisport gloves in the market today, virtually no one uses gloves when playing basketball. A primary reason why basketball players choose not to use gloves, as mentioned briefly above, is just like with football quarterbacks, basketball players often need to be able to both grip and feel the ball. Although many hand tasks require a good grip, no art currently exists that would adequately provide these players with enhanced grip capabilities, or enhanced protection, without having to sacrifice the critical ability of being able to properly feel the basketball as well.

One clear hand task in basketball is in shooting the basketball with the intention of making a score or basket. Conventional jump-shot shooting form requires, among other things, that the player hold the basketball largely with the fingertips of both hands, and creating a small opening—or a shooter's gap—between the ball and the palm area of the player's strong-hand. No prior art exists that would increase the gripping abilities of a players fingertips and leaving the rest of the hand uncovered and thus free to feel if the basketball is touching the palm area (indications that would mean that the player is improperly shooting the basketball).

No prior art exists that would provide an athlete with the ability to have enhanced control when dribbling a basketball. Proper dribbling form is to rarely, if ever, look at the ball while dribbling said ball—thus one of the critical reasons why one needs to be able to maintain high ‘feel’ ability. Without any extra grip enhancers however, it is difficult to maintain stable control of the basketball.

A typical game—even a professional game—often can have as many as 30 turnovers (combined), so offering art that could increase ball control while dribbling, passing or even catching a basketball could significantly enhance performance by, among other things, minimizing turnovers. For example, minimizing turnovers by offering better ball control while dribbling a basketball would dramatically enhance a player's performance. Those players playing the position of Guard may benefit from added grip support especially because they may need to dribble, at least briefly, with their strong hand as well as with their weak hand. Whereas many players would benefit from control enhancers for their strong (dominant) hand, most guards would certainly benefit from control enhancers for their weak hand.

Although athletes playing the position of Forward or Center would also benefit by enhanced dribbling abilities, most of the turnovers caused by Forwards and Centers are often the result of dropping passes thrown to them, or from making a bad pass. Offering art that would enhance the ability to better pass or catch a basketball could therefore also enhance overall performance for anyone playing the sport of basketball.

Another hand task in basketball is in slamming a basketball through a basketball hoop (commonly known as slamdunking). When one slamdunks a basketball it is often done with force and almost always involves striking a metal basketball hoop with at least one of your hands (mostly impacting the fingers). For Forwards and Centers especially, this hand task can quickly take a toll on their fingers if their fingers are not somehow protected.

The current—and only—method of enhancing the hand task of slamdunking is by applying standard tape to select finger joints. This current method and product has significant shortcoming that often result in inferior execution. First, if one tapes parts of ones hands, say the fingers, those fingers will lose substantial grip capabilities in that area, which could result in mishandling the basketball (a significant issue with Forwards and Center). Second, the tape doesn't provide for any extra padding along the taped area; the area is simply protected by the thickness of the tape and the number of times one wraps the tape on their fingers. Better devices and methods of providing added protection while slamming while not sacrificing ball control, would significantly impact the sport of basketball.

Other general hand task challenges that are in need of a better solution have to do with basketball players who injure, in some way, their hand. In this situation the player has to tape her hand, especially when injuring a forger. The result again is a decrease in ball control and limited protection. To protect the injury, most players will choose to tape the finger and try to adjust. Loss of dribbling control can often result, as will loss of ball control when preparing to shoot the ball (and it slips out of the players hand and flies aimlessly in to the air).

There are several non-sport hand task that would benefit from new art, including:

-   -   Massage therapists who may want limited protection on a select         number of fingers but would seen as very inappropriate if they         chose to wear a glove.     -   Elderly who use walkers and want only a modest increase in         control     -   Activities such as basic yard work that don't require much hand         protection

DETAIL DESCRIPTIONS OF THE INVENTION

In general the present invention offers control enhancers for the forearm, wrist, hand, and in select areas of the arm and/or the hand, as well as control enhancing covers that could be placed over conventional arm pads and/or elbow pads. Embodiments can comprise of various weather-resistant and/or perspirant-resistant materials, forms and designs including but not limited to water-resistant materials or hole designs for moisture management, or combinations thereof. Furthermore, embodiments could comprise various types of stretch materials and designs, mesh fabrics, recycled and flexible materials, rayon, spandex, fleece, rubbers, plastics, polyester, or combinations thereof. Embodiments have a grip enhancing surface which may comprise of various grip enhancing materials, forms, designs, and coatings. Such as, for example, PVC dots, latex coatings, and linear grooves.

Arm Task Enhancement Embodiments

One sport where said present invention will clearly enhance performance is in the sport of football. For example, one particular unmet need that a grip-enhancing device for the forearm area will satisfy, will be with receivers. One embodiment of the present invention comprises a reusable forearm tubular member—or a glove for the forearm—that will allow a receiver to increase his overall ball grip and therefore control of a football especially when catching a football and attempting to complete a reception. This forearm glove could be designed to minimize movement on impact. The embodiment could also have PVC dots, perhaps forming an oval shape, along the outer surface to enhance one's grip, necessary for improved performance. The football player would slip this cylindrical shaped embodiment onto his arm, covering most or all of the forearm area. This embodiment could be made of natural rubber or natural rubber latex.

The circumference of this embodiment could be about 5 inches, being able to expand to about 12 inches. For a receiver, this and other embodiments would also allow the player to increase receptions and decrease fumbles, by being able to better cope with added stress factors, factors which would otherwise make for an unstable overall grip.

An embodiment that could offer greater consistency and enhanced performance would comprise a grip enhancing cover that could cover the elbow pad that a football player currently uses. This embodiment—as an elbow pad cover—could comprise of a grip-enhancing design such as several grooves throughout the arm area surface. By allowing the player to continue to use his current padding for protection and preferred comfort while providing a new grip enhancing cover, this embodiment would enhance a player's ability to better absorb impact from the ground or from a defender—without losing control of the ball.

Additionally, this embodiment would minimize the possibility of the ball moving, once in the receivers grasp because, among other things, grip capability has now been enhanced throughout the arm. This embodiment could be crafted with a blend of polyester and LYCRA spandex for a tight fit. The circumference of this embodiment could be, for example, about 3 inches or more at each end while having a wider circumference in the middle portion, to allow for the embodiment to cover the existing, conventional elbow pad. Such as, for example, having a middle circumference starting at about 2 inches more than at each end.

This particular embodiment could be one tubular member cover, covering the wrist, forearm, elbow and bicep areas—essentially covering an entire arm pad with a grip enhancing cover. This grip enhancer might comprise of a latex coating with non-linear grooves. Other similar embodiments might only extend from the wrist through the elbow area, allowing the biceps to flex easier (being uncovered and therefore unencumbered), if a player prefers.

Embodiments could also significantly improve the performance of running backs or any player who runs with a ball. One embodiment of the present invention, comprising a reusable grip enhancer for the wrist area, would allow a player to significantly increase his ability to control or cradle a ball when running. This embodiment could be placed on the wrists to help stabilize control, thereby supplementing a grip of any glove that might be currently available and in use. This embodiment could also be used as a grip enhancer around the elbow area.

Specifically, two wrist enhancers might be used; one could be placed just below the elbow area and the other just above the elbow area, allowing a player to almost literally grab one end of the football with the elbow. Clearly, this would create a much greater, more stable overall grip because one would now have grip enhancers that one could use to increase ones grip on both ends of the football, with a glove on the hand holding one end of the football, and the grip enhancers on the elbow area holding the other end of the football. The grip enhancers could comprise of PVC dots throughout the surface area of the wrist embodiment, and the embodiment could be made of nylon and rubber, and could begin in length at 1 inch. These, and other embodiments, could also prove useful for quarterback who have a number of fumbles during a season.

Other sports, such as Rugby, could benefit from many of the described embodiments for many of the same reasons.

Embodiments of the present invention can offer significant and substantial benefits by offering the ability to better control a ball in select areas of the arm. For example, embodiments could be placed on primarily only the forearm area, allowing the player to have significantly enhanced control over a ball, much like a glove can help a players' hand better control a ball. In addition, these forearm embodiments offer new and surprising results when used in the sport of volleyball: they allow a player to impart much more spin on the volleyball—an added feature which could substantially impact the sport. This ability to impart significant spin on the ball could make it easier to control the ball upon contact, to strike a ball, to get the ball to a teammate, and to redirect the ball.

One particular embodiment could comprise of a reusable partial forearm cover. One could consider it very similar to the forearm cover previously explained except that this elongated grip member covers only part of the forearm. It could be made of materials similar to that of a typical hand glove, and offering similar benefits to that of a hand glove as well. Specifically, it could be made of a stretch, moisture-resistant fiber, with grooves along most of one side (allowing the player to impart more spin on the ball), and elastic material on the other side. One would then put one's hand through the opening until it rested firmly along the forearm pad. As a result, one would now have significantly more ball control during volleyball practice or game play. After the activity was completed, one could then simply take off this embodiment, and store it for future play. Another embodiment would simply be the forearm glove. If, for example, the volleyball player does not use an forearm pad, then the player would want to use the forearm glove, which would fit snugly upon the forearm of the player. It would have a common circumference throughout the embodiment.

In general, the arm task enhancer embodiments of the present invention can generally be used in conjunction with any type of arm task activity or sports play. As discussed, they offer an individual with the opportunity to increase overall arm task performance. Maintaining or increasing overall control, for example, can provide many benefits to a user of these, and other embodiments. Among the many benefits of the arm task enhance embodiments are they:

-   -   Allow an individual to maintain or increase control of a ball or         object     -   Provide the unique solution for players who desire better grip         capabilities only in select areas     -   Provide a player with the ability to convey grip ability that         can more evenly extend out further than just the hand (by         wearing a glove)     -   Offer a more stabilizing overall grip of a ball or object, by         conveying grip enhancers to select locations of the arm.

Additionally, these embodiments can provide:

-   -   Improved performance in arm task execution     -   Improve overall grip     -   Improve stability of overall grip throughout the grip of a ball     -   More control     -   More consistency     -   Less ball mishandles     -   Allow athletes to use their current preferred pads and coupling         them with grip enhancing covers

Hand Task Enhance Embodiments

One sport where hand task enhance embodiments of the present invention will clearly enhance performance is in the sport of football. For example, one particular unmet need that embodiments will satisfy will be with football quarterbacks (though receivers could benefit from this also). In the book “coaching football successfully,” by Allan Trinkle (2001) “quarterback mechanics and ball-handling skills are vital for offensive success and consistency.” One embodiment of the present invention comprises a series of finger embodiments that could be used at the same time. Specifically, for example, grip enhancing finger cots—or finger gloves—could be used to independently cover two fingers: one over the Thumb and the other over the Forefinger. These finger embodiments would allow a quarterback to increase his ball grip and overall control of a football, while still allowing some vital finger feel of the football as well (by leaving the remaining three fingers uncovered). These embodiments could be made of a natural rubber, having PVC dots throughout, and having an elastic component at the end, to create a tight, secure fit.

Because football is often played outside, these embodiments might be made of moisture-resistant fibers as well. The benefits to the user of these embodiments would include: better overall grip and better control in holding and throwing a football, higher throwing accuracy, and less fumbles. These embodiments would take into account the benefits of the laces on a football, and give a quarterback the unique ability to grasp a football over the football laces on a football, with the comfort and feel of not having a glove, while adding the support that a glove might provide, over the Thumb and Forefinger. No prior art offers this unique type of support and ability. These embodiments would therefore increase grip capability on select fingers, while leaving the rest of the hand uncovered and able to maintain the necessary ‘feel’ of the ball, something that prior art cannot do. If a quarterback prefers placing only two fingers over the football laces, then the quarterback could add a third finger embodiment and place it over the middle finger as well. The present invention therefore allows a quarterback to tailor these task enhancers to conform to one's particular football throwing grip preferences. The resulting stronger overall grip should make for a much higher success at throwing a spiral, and generally higher consistency and performance in ball handling and control.

In addition to offering greater throwing accuracy and consistency, these and other embodiments could also help minimize quarterback fumbles by adding gripping support when completing other quarterback tasks, such as when ‘pumping’ the football, scrambling from being tackled, and even when catching and passing the football, especially when in ‘shot gun’ formation (when a quarterback has no time to glance at the football and must solely on feel to properly grasp and throw a football).

Another sport where the present invention will meet an unmet need is in the sport of golf. Many embodiments can be used in conjunction with each other to uniquely solve problems that have up until now been unsolved. As mentioned, gloves are not used on a golfer's dominant hand because of the structural limitations of prior art. For example, a golfer may want to enhance the grip around some fingers but might also want a couple of fingers uncovered as so to maintain critical feel sensitivities. New art in the form of multiple finger control enhancers to support a golfer's strong hand would now allow a golfer to select which fingers she wants covered and which she wants to remain uncovered. The benefits of this significant and substantial physical difference in this new art could change the way that golf is played by among other things, offer the golfer a more stable overall grip, better control and enhanced performance. For example, one solution for a golfer's strong hand comprises using three finger embodiments, one that covers each of the strong hands' Thumb, Forefinger and Middle finger, leaving the Ring and Pinkie fingers uncovered. The ‘feel’ and coordination tasks could therefore be maintained with the Ring and Pinkie fingers by leaving these fingers uncovered, while enhancing the overall grip of the strong hand by covering the strong hand's Thumb, Forefinger and Middle fingers. These embodiments therefore offer the golfer a much improved method of playing the sport of golf by using grip enhancers not just on the weak hand but also on the strong hand as well, without limiting the feel and coordination requirements in a proper golf swing. These embodiments could be made of synthetic rubber, having non-linear grooves throughout the embodiments.

Currently, only full-fingered gloves exist for golfers, regardless of one's preferred golf grip. Embodiments of the present invention could offer significant improvements to gloves by allowing a golfer to self select which fingers she wants covered and which ones she doesn't. One very popular grip, for example, is called the ‘interlocking grip.’ When one uses this grip, the Forefinger of the golfer's weak hand—which is covered by a glove—is placed over her strong (dominant) hand—which is not covered by a glove—and interlocked with the strong hand's uncovered Pinkie finger. With the present invention, if she wants to increase her hand coordination, she can now use embodiments to increase the feel between the two interlocked fingers; if she wants to increase her grip between her two hands, she could place grip enhancers on both interlocked fingers.

For example, she could choose to have four finger embodiments to cover all the fingers on her weak hand, except the Forefinger. These embodiments could be made of the same material used to make a typical golf glove, such as rubber or synthetic rubber. Each embodiment could have a slit on part of the top, so to make it easier to place on the forger. Among the results would be that she could maintain grip on the fingers that actually grip the golf club, while being able to increase the feel of her Forefinger, the one that's interlocked with the Pinkie, and the benefits could be a more effectively controlled golf swing and greater golf swing consistency.

Alternatively, the golfer may simply prefer to add a finger embodiment on just the Pinkie finger of her dominant hand. The result would be that all the fingers would be covered on her weak hand—by the use of a prior art glove—and the Pinkie finger of her strong hand would be covered by a grip enhancer as well—by a Pinkie finger embodiment. This general idea clearly also would apply to someone gipping a golf club with the ‘overlapping’ and ‘full-fingered’ methods.

Another possible outcome in the way golf is played may be in how one handles a golf putter. Current proper form is not to use a glove. If one were to watch a professional golf tournament, for example, nearly all golfers would use one glove (placed on their weak hand) that they would use to grip a club for the tee shot swing, the fairway swing and even the short, approach swings. Once the golfer was ready to use their putter and putt the golf ball, they virtually always take their glove off, deciding to grip the putter with both hands uncovered (without any sort of grip enhancer, such as a glove). Finger embodiments could be used to modestly increase the player's grip while allowing her to maintain heightened finger sensitivities—something that gloves cannot offer. These finger embodiments could be made of a softer mesh fabric and perhaps a smoother surface but also with a griping coating or compound, such as PVC coating, and would now allow a golfer to choose, if she prefers, to increase the grip she has on her club, modestly, while maintaining a heightened overall feel of the putter as well.

For example, the golfer could choose to keep her overall feel of the putter very high by not using a glove on either hand. However, she could then decide to use a Thumb embodiment (for her dominant hand) and a Pinkie finger embodiment (for her weak hand), thereby also modestly increasing her grip at both ends of her hand grip. Even a slight increase in control of a putter can make a very significant and substantial difference in performance, especially if one ‘drives for show and putts for dough.’ These embodiments might also have an opening for easy removal, with VELCRO on both sides of the opening.

Another sport where hand task enhancer embodiments of the present invention would meet unmet needs would be in the sport of basketball. Individuals who play basketball have to ‘feel’ as well as control a ball to perform effectively (as mentioned previously), and although they too could significantly enhance performance in controlling a ball by using grip enhancers, prior art forces them to choose between all feel (and therefore, no glove) or no feel, and go without any type of grip enhancers. These players would substantially benefit from developing a way to maintain feel while increasing grip capabilities in select areas of the hand, thereby solving this significant issue. This insoluble problem can now be solved by embodiments of the present inventions.

One solution that would help a player shoot a basketball better comprises five finger embodiments. These embodiments would allow the rest of the hand, including the palm area, to remain uncovered. For all basketball players, but especially for those who have trouble shooting free throw shots or shooting outside of the perimeter, the uncovered palm area keeps feel sensitivities high in that area, so as to allow them to feel when they are using bad shooting form, because the basketball should rarely touch the palm area when properly shooting a basketball.

Embodiments could also satisfy the necessary requirements in dribbling a basketball as well. According to the book “Basketball for High School Players and Coaches,” (1955) Carl Bachman describes proper fundamentals of basketball dribbling: “Certain fundamentals apply to all phases of ball handling: Looseness of finger and wrist action is important, practice spinning the ball on fingertips; a basketball should never touch the heel of the hand and seldom, if ever, touch the palm.”

Because proper dribbling form also discourages the ball from touching the palm area, covering the palm area with, say a glove, would not only be relatively useless in basketball, but also a waste of resources. My embodiments would allow a player to avoid covering her palm area and instead concentrate her enhanced gripping abilities in the most important area when it comes to shooting; the fingertips. One embodiment of the present invention could comprise a Thumb embodiment and a Forefinger embodiment for both hands. These embodiments could help a dribbler develop and use proper dribbling form, especially on her weak-hand. This embodiment would more generally help any player, and likely could be used, for example, by those playing the position of Guard while practicing proper dribbling on their strong-hand, as well as Forwards and Centers during actual game play for added support on their weak-hand.

These finger embodiments could be designed, for example, with a grip enhancing element—such as PVC dots or horizontal grooves—only on the fingertips. They could be made of a stretch fabric. The result would of course be a better overall grip and a significantly superior alternative to the prior art of basic multisport gloves that cover the hand completely, once again forcing the basketball player to lose much of the critical requirements of being able to feel the ball.

Another embodiment for enhanced general basketball play could comprise finger embodiments for the Thumb, Forefinger and Middle finger of both hands. All six fingers are all covered. Additionally, the palm area would therefore be uncovered. These embodiments would give a basketball player the ability to better catch a ball, thus eliminating the consistent problem often found in Forwards and Centers losing control of passes. These embodiments would also provide a player with a stronger grip on the ball when passing a ball as well as provide some moisture management control, thus minimizing turnovers often caused by passers, especially in Guards.

Although many hand tasks require a good grip, no art currently exists that would provide these players with the ability to maintain some grip capabilities while at the same time trying to protect the hand from injury, or trying to protect an already injured hand. Finger embodiments of the present invention would allow a player to be able to apply some sort of protection on select fingers, without having to sacrifice the critical ability of being able to properly grip the basketball.

For example, one common hand task in basketball is slamming a basketball through a basketball hoop (commonly known as slamdunking). When one slamdunks a basketball it is often done with force and almost always involves striking the metal basketball hoop with at least one of your hands (mostly impacting the fingers). For Forwards and Centers especially, this hand task can quickly take a toll on their fingers if their fingers are not somehow protected. The current—and only—method of enhancing this hand task is to apply tape to select finger joints. This current method and product has significant shortcoming that often result in inferior execution. First, if one tapes parts of one's hands with the standard tape that prior art provides, the player will lose any grip capabilities in that area, which could easily result in mishandling a basketball. Second, the tape doesn't provide for any extra padding along the taped area; the area is simply protected by the thickness of the tape and the number of times one wraps the tape on their fingers. One finger task enhancing embodiment, therefore, could comprise finger embodiments on select fingers requiring some added protection. These embodiments could offer a lightly padded interior for extra protection, while having PVC dots on the exterior, for increased grip capabilities. The padding could range anywhere from 1/16 inch to ⅓ inch of cotton fabric padding, for example. Among the results would be a better device and method of providing added protection while slamming, and not sacrificing ball control.

A secondary but still important feature is that this embodiment will help players slamdunk a basketball by helping the player to grip the ball using only one hand, a major benefit to those with smaller hands. This feature would provide added grip support and greater performance in slamdunking.

Other general hand task challenges that embodiments would help solve have to do with basketball players who injure, in some way, their hand. This situation is very common in basketball, where a player has to tape her hand after, say, injuring a finger. The result again is a decrease in ball control and limited protection. These hand task enhancer embodiments could also allow a player to tape her finger first, and then slipping a finger embodiment over the tape. Alternatively, one embodiment could include a padded interior, or a padded layer between the inner layer, which touches the skin of the finger, and the outer layer which has the grip enhancers, which might result in the player not needing tape to protect an injury. These finger embodiments would be substantially superior because these embodiments would, for example, be able to protect a finger injury (with the padding element) while not diminishing grip, because of the gripping element on the outer surface of said embodiments. The padding element could comprise of any soft, cushiony fabric, such as silk or silk-like materials.

Other sports which could benefit from embodiments of the present invention include, but the limited to, baseball (pitchers might just use a thumb embodiment to create more control of ball pitches) and volleyball (players might also just use a thumb embodiment having grip enhancers on the sides or the front of said embodiments, areas where the Thumb make contact with the volleyball), tennis (where a player may want to use, say a Thumb and Forefinger embodiment for increased grip, leaving the other fingers uncovered). Virtually any player in any sport may benefit from the present invention where hand use is involved.

Hand task enhancers could certainly assist an individual more effectively perform activities outside of sports activities as well.

Areas where hand task enhancers would more effectively increase performance include, but are not limited to:

-   -   Indoor activities where a glove is often burdensome     -   Gripping daily household items like twisting off a tight lid     -   Placing on just thumbs and forefingers when doing a manicure     -   When gripping a hammer, wrench or other tools     -   When players desire better grip capabilities only in select         areas of the hand

In general, the hand task enhancer embodiments of the present invention can generally be used in conjunction with any type of hand task activity or sports play. As discussed, they offer an individual with the opportunity to increase overall hand task performance. Maintaining or increasing overall control, for example, can provide many benefits to a user of these, and other embodiments. Among the many benefits of the hand task enhance embodiments are that they:

-   -   Allow an individual to maintain or increase control of a ball or         object     -   Offer the ability to grip as well as feel a ball and/or device;     -   Provide the unique solution for players who desire better grip         capabilities only in select areas     -   Allow a player to protect an injury on a finger without losing         significant grip capabilities—disadvantages that using prior art         sports tape would create if not used in conjunction with these         embodiments     -   Give a means for players who want added protection to complete         certain activities, such as slamdunking a basketball, without         losing grip capabilities that the current art sports tape would         create.     -   Provide a player with the added convenience to select which         fingers to cover and which fingers to remain uncovered, simply         even just to maximize overall comfort during sports play     -   Offer a more stabilizing overall grip of a ball or object, by         conveying grip-enhancers to select locations of the hand.

Additionally, these embodiments can provide:

-   -   Improved performance in hand task execution     -   Improved overall grip     -   Improved stability of overall grip throughout the hands     -   Increased control     -   Increased consistency     -   More hand coordination by adjusting enhancers to match one         particular golf swing     -   Less hand task control handles, such as basketball turnovers

These are among the many benefits of the present invention, and is not to be construed as limitation of the benefits nor their legal equivalents

Although the description of the present invention only discussed a few embodiments, it is understood that other non-sport and sport activities might benefit as well from the present invention and its legal equivalents. In addition, only some embodiments have been discussed and in no way is intended to limit all the various embodiments and other embodiments that the present invention provides, such as but not limited to, different designs. For example, embodiments can easily be developed for easy opening, where a part of the back of the forearm opens up, and is tightened using VELCRO (Velcro is a registered trademark). Additionally, these embodiments can be used by men and women, boys and girls, playing any position in sport, as well as those whose dominant hand is the right hand or the left.

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWING

It is expressly understood that the following descriptions and drawing are for illustration purposes only, and in no way are intended to limit the scope of the present invention and its various embodiments.

FIG. 1 is a drawing of an embodiment for the forearm, or the forearm glove.

FIG. 2 is a drawing of the control enhancing cover embodiment, covering a conventional elbow pad.

FIG. 3 is a drawing of an embodiment for the wrist area, or the wrist glove.

FIG. 4 is a drawing of various embodiments covering the fingers.

FIG. 5 is a drawing of a finger embodiment, with padding and an opening.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

It is expressly understood that the drawings are for the purpose of illustration and description only and are not intended as a definition of the limits of the invention.

In FIG. 1, the present invention, is shown as a general arm task enhancer, or could more commonly be called a glove for the forearm. This particular glove could be made of cabretta leather and spandex to offer moisture and perspiration resistance. Most of the forearm 10 area is covered. Non-linear grooves 11 offer increased control and grip when using the forearm embodiment. The circumference 12 is wide enough to fit snug on the arm, and has an elastic element 13. Thus since the embodiment covers most of the arm area it provides the user, such as a volleyball player, with a more stable overall control of a volleyball upon impact than just by using the skin of the forearm for impact. A modified version of this embodiment could be a forearm embodiment, that only covers the general forearm area. The circumference could begin at about 5 inches and expand several more. This forearm embodiment would therefore not extend out to the elbow 14 or bicep.

In FIG. 2, this particular embodiment is used to cover an already existing sports arm pad. This arm pad covering 20 can be made of polyester and cotton 21 for superior comfort. It is essentially an enclosure for the wearer's elbow pad 22. The embodiment is placed over the elbow pad. The circumference of the ends of this 23 have a smaller circumference than the middle area 24 thereby allowing for the embodiment to properly enclose the elbow pad while also being able to still fit snugly. For example, the circumference at the ends might be about 5 inches but the circumference in the middle may be a few inches longer, such as 9 inches. Furthermore, the ends may have more of an elastic element to it. The covering embodiment has PVC dots 25 as the grip enhancing surface. Similar embodiments would cover the forearm pad, and could be manufactured in the same manner as the elbow pad covering embodiments.

In FIG. 3, the present invention is shown as a gripping wrist band. It is made of a natural rubber latex 30, with nonlinear grooves 31 on the surface to increase the grip in the wrist area. For example, when a football player begins to run with a football, the football is gripped usually by one hand, and is placed on the wrist and forearm of the arm. The football player then begins to run, while swinging his hand—and the ball—while running. This embodiment would help control the ball around the wrist area. It would have a cylindrical, flexible structure, with a circumference 32 beginning at about 2 inches.

In FIG. 4, the present invention is shown as various grip-enhancing embodiments for the finger. Specifically, there are four separate embodiments shown. Each could be used independently or in combinations. These embodiments should have a circumference large enough to be able to fit tightly around select areas of a finger. The first embodiment comprises a forefinger embodiment 41. It can be made, for example, of a latex or synthetic latex. It offers added grip support in PVC dots 42 in controlling a ball or object. The second embodiment comprises a middle finger embodiment 43. It can also be made of latex, or of a natural rubber, thus mirroring, in many respects, what wearing a glove would feel like and accomplish. This embodiment shows a different grip enhancing design 44. The third embodiment comprises a ring finger embodiment 45. It is made of a polyester and elastic combination, and offers a grip enhancing mechanism 46. This fourth embodiment comprises a pinkie embodiment 47. It is made of nylon, and offers yet a slightly different grip enhancing addition. These embodiment, individually or in combination, offer the ability, in one respect, to basically separate a glove into its different components and then selectively choose which components to wear. This can be especially important for those individuals who need to retain heightened sensitivities in part of the hand, but need grip support in another part of the same hand. Using gloves instead of finger embodiments for these individuals would also be an unnecessary waste of materials.

In FIG. 5, the present invention is shown as a grip-enhancing finger embodiment. This embodiment is a forefinger embodiment. It has a padded element 51, which is made of a thin layer of foam. It also has an opening 52. The opening makes it easier for, say a golfer to quickly remove the embodiment, as he's walking towards a putting green. The embodiment also has an element to fasten and/or tighten the embodiment. This particular embodiment uses a strap 53 with VELCRO, that attaches to the other side of the opening 54 that possesses the VELCRO receiving end. Other modifications could offer a small brace such that the strap could wrap around before reattaching to the VELCRO receiver. 

I claim:
 1. A multisport means comprising: A finger cot Said finger cot comprising weather-resistant and/or perspirant-resistant materials, forms and designs Said finger cot having a grip-enhancing surface Thereby allowing a user to use said finger cots in sports activities
 2. The means, as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a middle layer Said middle layer comprised of a padding material Said middle layer comprised of a protective material
 3. The means, as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an opening Said opening having an element whereby user can close or refasten said opening Thereby allowing a user to more easily put on or take off said means, and/or tighten or loosen said means
 4. The use of the means, in accordance with the claim in claim 1, to play an active sports activity.
 5. A multisport means, comprising: A tubular member Said tubular member being of sufficient size to cover a wrist, in part or in its entirety Said tubular member having a grip enhancing surface
 6. The means, as claimed in claim 5, wherein said tubular member comprises: A wrist band Said grip enhancing surface comprises PVC dots, grooves, and/or grip-enhancing coatings, such as polyurethane, latex, or poly-coated nylon knit.
 7. A multisport means, comprising: A tubular member Said tubular member being of sufficient size to cover a forearm, in part or in its entirety Said tubular member having a grip enhancing surface
 8. The means, as claimed in claim 7, wherein said tubular member comprises: A forearm glove Said grip enhancing surface comprising PVC dots, grooves, and/or grip enhancing coatings, such as polyurethane, latex or poly-coated nylon knit
 9. A multisport covering means, comprising: A tubular member Said tubular member being of sufficient size to cover a conventional sports arm pad Said tubular member having a grip-enhancing surface
 10. The means, as claimed in claim 9, wherein said tubular member comprises: A forearm pad covering Said grip enhancing surface comprising PVC dots, grooves, and/or grip enhancing coatings, such as polyurethane, latex or poly-coated nylon knit
 11. The means, as claimed in claim 9, wherein said tubular member comprises: An elbow pad covering Said grip enhancing surface comprising PVC dots, grooves, and/or grip enhancing coatings, such as polyurethane, latex or poly-coated nylon knit 